Location based authentication

ABSTRACT

A method of enabling a user to access recorded data associated with an event, the method comprising determining the location of a user&#39;s device at a control unit, confirming the location is within a predetermined vicinity and that the user&#39;s device was at the location within a predetermined period and the control unit enabling access for the user to the data if the location of the user&#39;s device in the predetermined period is confirmed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/624,001 filed Jun. 15, 2017, which claims priority to GB PatentApplication No. 1610421.8, filed Jun. 15, 2016, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to providing data associated with an event to auser, based on authentication of the user.

BACKGROUND

During a live event, such as a sporting event or concert, a spectator atthe venue may wish to record footage or images of the event as a mementoor to share with friends. The spectator uses his or her personal cameraor smartphone to make a recording of all or part of the event. Thisrecording can then be shared online or otherwise so that it can beaccessed by others. However, the quality of the video may be poor due tosuch things as inadequate recording equipment, distance of the spectatorfrom the action and/or poor camerawork by the spectator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure shall now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an environment in which a live event is taking place;

FIG. 2 shows a display on a user device to request access to videocontent;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method of providing data associated witha live event to a user;

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method of accessing a data streamassociated with a live event from a user device; and

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of one implementation of a computingdevice.

Throughout the description and the drawings, like reference numeralsrefer to like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an environment 100 in which an arranged live event istaking place. The environment has a performance area 102 in which thelive event such as a sporting, musical, political or other event isbeing performed. The live event is captured by installed video cameras104 a-c directed at the performance area 102 and possibly the crowd andother contributory aspects of the environment. Each video camera 104 a-chas a defined location in the environment 100. In FIG. 1, three videocameras are shown, although it will be appreciated that any number ofvideo cameras could be used in order to appropriately record the liveevent. The cameras may be part of a system set up to record the eventfor later or concurrent transmission, for example as a scheduledtelevision program. Alternatively, the cameras may be dedicated to thepurpose of implementing the system disclosed herein.

The live event is observed by a crowd of spectators in the environment100. A spectator in the crowd has a user device 106, for example asmartphone, tablet, personal computer, smartwatch, or clicker, connectedto the internet or other supporting communications network through asmartphone or radio frequency RF link such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The environment 100 also has a number of communication beacons 108 a-edistributed about the environment. In this embodiment, the user device106 communicates with the beacons 108 a-e using Bluetooth, althoughother local and pico network communication schemes can be used tosimilar effect. Each beacon 108 a-e is installed at a predefinedposition in the environment 100 and has its own ID. Each beacon 108 a-ehas a configurable broadcast range which allows it to connect with adevice 106 and receive data via Bluetooth from anywhere within itsbroadcast range in the environment 100. The broadcast range of eachbeacon is adjusted so that the set of beacons provides a more or lesscomprehensive coverage for the spectating area of the environment. Fivebeacons are shown in FIG. 1, although it will be appreciated that anynumber of beacons can be used. It will also be appreciated thatincreasing the number of beacons increases the granularity of thelocation information as described below. It is also possible toimplement the disclosed method/system with a single beacon.

The system and method according to the embodiment described provides theuser with the ability to request access to video or other contentrecorded by one or more cameras 104 a-c. The system and method disclosedenable the event organiser to provide a value added service to the useras customer by providing them with access to the content recorded at theevent. The content may be linked to the approximate position of the userat the event so that the user has a professionally produced record ofthe event from the vicinity of their own position, or the user canchoose one or more camera angles. The choice is extended to selectingparts of the event, such as songs at a concert or a speech at a lecture,or time limited clips as samples of the event. Such parts can beautomatically selected coincident with the time of the request duringthe event. For example, if a user makes a request halfway through asong, the user can automatically be provided with the video recording ofthe complete song starting from before the request was made.

A control unit 110 is configured to communicate with the user device106. The control unit 110 may be located within the environment 100 orremote from it. The control unit 110 has memory storage containing adatabase of the locations of the video cameras 104 a-c, beacon IDs ofthe beacons 108 a-e and their locations in the environment 100. Thecontrol unit 110 also stores details of the event, for example, eventtype, time and duration. The control unit 110 is configured tocommunicate with a media processing unit MPU 112 which is located withinthe environment 100, but may also be remote from it. The control unit110 and the MPU 112 may be amalgamated into a single entity. The MPU 112receives video streams from each of the video cameras 104 a-c during theevent. In this embodiment, the video and/or audio data in the stream iscoded according to the Moving Picture Experts Group MPEG standard. Othercoding formats can be used to similar effect. The streams are stored inthe memory in the MPU 112 for consumption by a user, as will bedescribed below.

The MPU 112 communicates with the control unit 110 and the video cameras104 a-c via Wi-Fi. Other communication schemes having a bandwidthcapable of supporting the streamed content can be used. For example, ifthe control unit 110 and/or the MPU 112 are located remotely from theenvironment 100, communication may be enabled over a network such as theinternet or cable.

During an event, the video cameras 104 a-c record the live event that isoccurring in the performance area 102. The video stream of the recordedevent from each of the cameras is sent to the MPU 112 and tagged to theparticular event, according to location of the event, time stamps and acamera source. The video content and tag data are stored at the MPU 112.The time stamps are applied to the recorded video at various pointsduring the event to enable retrieval of the video based on a point inthe duration of the event.

A user attending the event has, for example, a smartphone as a form ofthe user device 106. This has an application stored on it that enablesthe user to gain access to and order the recorded content stored at theMPU 112. There are two levels of security for access. First, the userhas to login to the application by providing an email or otheridentifying handle and a password or PIN that is registered for theservice. The user device then has to be validated for the event the useris attending. Once validated the user has access to the recorded contentfor the event on request as described below. The two levels of securityare optional. The login may not be needed in certain situations.However, the validation of the user actually attending the event to gainaccess to the content is the desirable authentication step.

The application installed in the user's smartphone 106 is illustrated byway of a screenshot in FIG. 2. The user having logged in at some pointbefore or during the event, the application is then running on thedevice until it is disabled. In this embodiment the applicationconstantly or intermittently monitors for transmissions of the beacons108 so that the current position of the device 106 relative to thebeacons is always known as the closest beacon in the network at any timeis captured by the device 106. In the network of beacons, capture iseffected by the device opting to retrieve beacon ID information from thebeacon providing the highest signal strength. This will generally equateto the closest beacon. The information on beacon capture is stored onthe device for use should the user decide at some point to requestrecorded content associated with the live event. The locationinformation required by the system to verify the device is supplementedby the time of the beacon ID capture. In this way the device isvalidated as being in the correct location at the correct time for theevent. If either the location information or the time information doesnot correspond to the event details stored at the control unit 110, thevalidation is unsuccessful and access to the recordings of the event isdenied. To perform the validation the location information derived fromthe captured beacon ID and the time of capture are sent to the controlunit 110 as evidence that the user device 106 is or was in the correctvicinity at the correct time. If the validation is successful aconfirmation is sent back to the device 106 which is then arranged todisplay on the screen a validation symbol 204. This informs the userthat he/she is able to make a request for recorded content associatedwith the attended event.

It is preferable for the user to enable the application on the userdevice and perform the login either at or close to the start of theevent. The device is then ready to execute a request without unduedelay. However, the application could be enabled at any time during theevent as required by the user. This may be preferable if the user isconcerned about battery life being inadequate for the duration of thelive event. Once an indication 204 appears on the screen on the device106 the application is ready to process a request. In an alternativeembodiment the user can provide verification of the presence of thedevice at the event by using a built-in global positioning system GPScapability. The co-ordinates for a device with this functionality canprovide the necessary location information with sufficient accuracy andthe beacons 108 a-e are then not needed as part of the system.

By running the application for a sustained period it is likely in someevents that the user will move around the venue. The locationinformation used for validation is the latest available either by beaconcapture or GPS co-ordinates.

With the login and validation procedure carried out, the control unit110 is able to confirm from its own database of events that the deviceis or was present at a particular event. It then enables access torecorded content for that event and sends a confirmation back to thedevice 106 which responds by illuminating the indication 204. In thisstate a button 206 on the screen is enabled. Pressing the button causesa request to be sent from the device to the control unit for recordedcontent. If the control unit is in or near the environment it ispossible for the request to be sent via Wi-Fi or other localtransmission networks. If the control unit 110 is remote from theenvironment the request can be sent, for example, via a mobiletelecommunications network.

In an alternative embodiment the time and location information forvalidation of the device 106 and the request itself are transmitted tothe control unit 110 in the same or consecutive transmissions butwithout the need to wait for validation before making a request. Thecontrol unit 110 then determines that the device is authorised to makethe request at the time the request is made and sends an acknowledgmentback to the device 106. This does not require a confirmatory indication204, but this can instead be used by way of subsequent confirmation thatthe request has been received by the control unit and is deemed valid.

Once a valid request is received by the control unit 110, the user isoffered recorded video from at least one selected camera position 104a-c. The video cameras each offer a different perspective of therecorded event. By using the beacon ID of the beacon captured by theuser device 106 or the transmitted GPS information, and the knownlocations of the cameras 104 a-c, the control unit 110 can offer bydefault the recorded video from the camera closest to the user locationin the environment 100 of the event. This gives the user recordedcontent from a similar perspective to that of his position in theenvironment. Other perspectives provided by other video cameras may alsobe selected. For example, a choice may be offered of a main feed, anon-stage feed, a user perspective and a feed from elsewhere in thecrowd. In this case the device location information is not needed to fixthe position of the device 106 at or near a particular camera. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, windows 208 a-f are provided to show eitherthumbnails or short videos of the various camera perspectives if theuser has a choice. By pressing one of the thumbnails, the request issupplemented with a specifier of the video of interest to the user. Thisis transmitted back to the control unit. The user then has the option ofaccessing the video content itself according to the selectedperspective(s) at the time or later. This will be described below.

The control unit 110 can also use the time information of the userrequest to identify a specific part of the event, such as a song at aconcert, or provide access to a defined clip of the song according tothe selected camera angle. This is particularly applicable to discretecontent at a live event such as a song, lecture or speech. However, thetechnique is equally applicable to delivering content that constitutessimply a portion of the event straddling the time of the request. Thus,the user is offered selections in the windows 208 a-f of differentcamera positions of the complete event, specific parts of the eventstraddling the request time and/or clips starting from or straddling thetime of the request. The content can be made available immediately uponrequest or it can be reserved for later consumption.

Once the user has selected one or more of the offered recordings, thecompletion of the request is sent back to the control unit. The controlunit 110 communicates with the MPU 112 and requests that the MPU 112extracts from the stored content the video or portion associated withthe time of the request. The MPU may extract a video clip that has beenrequested by a user device 106 in different ways. The video clipduration may be any length within the event. It may be a particular songat a musical event during which the request was received. For a definedpart of the event such as a song in a concert, the clip can be arrangedto coincide with the beginning and end of the part so that what isprovided to the user is the complete song. Alternatively, discrete clipswith a predetermined clip duration are marked in the stored videorecording. The length can be predetermined by the control unit 110 orthe MPU 112. For example, the stored video recording is marked indiscrete clips of 30 seconds resulting in 120 clips per hour for theevent. The MPU then retrieves the most appropriate clip for eachrequest, that is, the clip during which the user request was made.Alternatively, the user can be enabled via the application on the userdevice 106 to define the clip start and length.

In another form, the clips are extracted from the stored content on thebasis of a configurable time window that is applied for each individualrequest and its timestamp. For example, for a request at time “t”, aclip may begin at t−10 seconds and last until t+20 seconds. This ensuresthat the user receives content that has just been witnessed, as well ascontent following the input for context.

Alternatively, the size and/or duration of a video file may bedetermined dynamically based on the number of requests received within agiven period. For example, a clip may have a nominal duration of 15seconds and a timeout window of 10 seconds. That is to say, for arequest of time “t”, a clip may begin at t−15 seconds and last until t.If a second request is received before t+/0 seconds, the duration of thevideo clip to be delivered is extended to include video content up tothe second request. For example, if a second request is received at t+3seconds, the final video clip will have a duration of 15 seconds+3seconds=18 seconds. The clip duration is extended as further requestsare received, up to a predetermined clip length, for example 30 seconds.This avoids producing large files and long video clips to be processed.In this example, the minimum duration of a clip is 15 seconds and themaximum duration of a clip is 30 seconds. In this way, a single clip canaddress one or more requests. The dynamic determination of video clipduration allows multiple requests received in a predetermined period tobe mapped to the same video clip and the duplication of a given videomoment across different video files is prevented. Furthermore, with thisapproach, a single request during an hour-long event would onlymaterially generate a 15 seconds video file. This reduces storagerequirements and processing time required.

In another form, the system may be configured to operate using a timelimited buffer storing video content on a first-in-first-out FIFO basis.In this case, recorded content is stored in the buffer and thenoverwritten as newly recorded content becomes available once the bufferis full, using the FIFO approach. For example, only the previous 60seconds of recorded content may be stored in the buffer at any giventime. The buffer may be implemented at the MPU 112 or in a local memoryin each respective camera 104 a-c. The MPU 112 or the local memorycould, of course, be configured to store a longer or shorter duration ofrecorded content depending on the context. The buffer provides animmediate starting point for a user request but without requiring allcontent for the entirety of the event to be stored. The storage is basedon user demand.

In this mode, a request user to access stored content triggers therecording of further content, so that an extended duration of recordedcontent is provided beyond that which can be stored in the buffer. Theextension of the duration of recorded content could be in line with oneof the extraction methods discussed above. For example, the 60 secondsof data preceding a request are stored in the buffer and all or part ofit may be copied to the memory in the MPU 112, with 20 seconds ofrecorded content following the request also stored in the memory in theMPU 112. In this way, the user can access content similar to thatdescribed above, although video is only streamed from the cameras 104a-c to the MPU 112 and/or stored at the MPU 112 over the duration of alive event in response to a request.

In the case that the buffer is implemented in a memory local to eachrespective camera 104 a-c, no recorded content will even be streamed tothe MPU 112 unless a user request is received.

Due to the reduction in streaming and storing requirements for videocontent, the system more efficiently manages video content. Suchefficiency gains are particularly useful in the case that video cameras104 a-c have limited storage space and upload bandwidth, which wouldlimit full stream recording or constant live stream uploading. Whencommunicating with the MPU 112, the control unit 110 uses optimisationrules to cluster requests received from multiple user devices 106 forthe same defined content within a predetermined time window and canconsolidate them into a single request for the MPU 112. For example, ifmultiple users click to request the same content, such as a song, withina given window, only a single media file is requested from the storedcontent and generated by the MPU 112 to be accessed by the requestinguser devices. By combining multiple requests from multiple users into asingle file, storage and bandwidth efficiencies are realised.

Different request clustering methods may be performed. For example, onevideo file may be sent for all requests received over a given period. Inthe case that the format of the recorded video is HTTP Live StreamingHLS, a stream of video content is delivered through a series ofconsecutive discrete video clips which is stored at the MPU 112. One ofthese video clips may be sent for all requests received over a givenperiod. Alternatively, one video clip may be sent once a given number ofrequests has been received. Alternatives to HLS for streaming therecorded video can be used to similar effect. The advantage of suchstreaming techniques as HLS is that they break the streamed video intodiscrete portions or clips that can be readily identified for purposesof selection.

Once a video clip is extracted from a stored video recording, the MPU112 generates a file of the video clip and uploads it to a predefinedstorage platform for access. The storage platform is located remotelyfrom the environment. Alternatively, or additionally, the storageplatform may be located within the environment 100. The MPU 112 sends anaccess link, for example a URL, for the video clip to the control unit110. The control unit 110 obfuscates the URL of the media clip throughthe use of a token based URL, where generation of a URL does not allowderivation of another valid URL. The control unit 110 then sends theobfuscated URL to the user device 106 where it is displayed forselection as a screen of the application. The user is then in possessionof a link to the requested content.

The user can then access the video clip by navigating to the URL. Theuser can share the clip complemented with additional data, such as textcomments, audio comments or images. The control unit 110 applies usagerules for the video clip, for example, a limit on the number ofplaybacks of the video content. In this way, the video clip may belimited to a certain number of retrievals, shares, replays and/ordownloads. The limitation may be based on the identity of the devicebeing used to access the video clip. For example, only user devices 106authenticated as having been present at the event might be allowed toaccess the video clip, so that the clip can only be shared amongstattendees. Alternatively, other devices may be allowed to access thevideo clip, for example on a subscription or registration basis.

The limitations may be applied during the event and/or for a limitedtime after the event. After this time, the video clip may be arranged tono longer be available. Alternatively, the limitations may be appliedfor an unlimited time after the event.

A user who attended the event and had their user device validated beforeor during the event can be permitted access to view a convenientcollection of the most popular content. Popularity can be defined indifferent ways. For example, the number of clip requests received duringthe event can be assessed at the control unit 110 to determine the mostpopular content. The control unit 110 then collates data on the usage ofthe service for an event and compiles information on audience behaviourthat is of potential use to the event organisers and third parties forpromotional purposes. The traffic between the user devices and thesystem is also useful data for deriving information for otherpromotional purposes, such as voting for a particular song at a concert.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method 300 of enabling a user to accessdata associated with a live event. In this embodiment, the data is avideo recording of the event. At step 302, the control unit 110determines a location of the user device 106 from location data. Thelocation data is derived from information based on the capture of thebeacon ID of one of the beacons 108 a-e by the device 106. At step 304,the control unit 110 confirms that the location derived from thelocation data is within a predetermined vicinity coincident with theevent and that the device is at the location during the event.Alternatively, the time validation maybe within a period that startsbefore and ends after the scheduled time of the event or a specificwindow of time during the event according to the service provider'schoice. At step 306, the control unit 110 enables access for the user tothe recorded content if the location of the device in the period isconfirmed.

In this embodiment, the user makes a request during the event. Ratherthan extracting a video clip based on the time of the user request, theuser accesses any video content associated with the event that isavailable from the MPU 112. This is done either directly in response tothe request or later, for example via a web browser. In this way, thecontrol unit 110 confirms that the user was physically present at theevent and enables the user to access the content, without communicatingwith the MPU 112 at the time. The user can then select preferred videocontent from any part of the event after the event has taken place, forexample a particular song or the whole concert and desired cameraposition(s).

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method 400 of accessing data associatedwith a live event by the user device 106. At step 402, the user requestsaccess to data using the user device 106. In this embodiment, the datais a stored video recording of the event. As above, the request includesproviding location information and the time of the request. In thisembodiment, the location information is the beacon ID of one of thebeacons 108 a-e. At step 404, the user is enabled to access the contenton the user device 106 must be present within the vicinity of the eventin order to be validated to access the relevant video content.

The system is adaptable to different contexts as it is applicable todifferent sources of media content. The system can therefore be appliedto various different contexts, such as concerts, sports events,lectures, experimental laboratories, or any live event which can berecorded and shared.

Video cameras 104 a-c can be professional cameras each operated by acameraman or remotely from a control station. They, or some of them, mayalso be static. In other implementations, the video cameras can bereplaced by any other suitable recording devices capable of providing amedia feed to the MPU 112. For example, the amateur cameras based onsmartphones, camcorders or action cameras could be used, or simply amicrophone for audio recording only. In this way, other media contentthan video, such as images or audio, could be recorded and accessed bythe user according to these disclosed embodiments. In the case that asmartphone, or other recording device with limited storage and bandwidthcapability, is used, the buffer approach to recording content discussedabove may be preferable.

Instead of video cameras at fixed locations, the video cameras 104 a-ccould be moveable. In this instance, the location of the video camerasis tracked and determined by the control unit 110 or the MPU 112 basedon GPS data that is derived by each of the video cameras using installedGPS functionality and transmitted from there such that the control unitor the MPU 112 is able to monitor their positions. Similarly, thebeacons 108 a-e may also be moveable to cater, for example, for anyevent in which the live action moves from one place to another. Thebeacons are tracked using location information such as GPS. In one form,the beacons are each located on a respective video camera. The moveablebeacons may each simply track an aspect of the event such that absolutelocation information is less important than the fact that a particularbeacon is tracking a given aspect of the event.

Each beacon 108 a-e can be associated with a different video feed forthe same live event. For example, beacons 108 a and b are associatedwith video camera 104 a, while beacon 108 c is associated with videocamera 104 b and beacons 108 d and e are associated with video camera104 c. The control unit 110 can then identify a particular videoassociated with each beacon location using the mappings between thevideo cameras and the beacons.

Instead of Bluetooth, the user device 106 can communicate with thebeacons via any wireless protocol that can interface the user devicewith each beacon. Instead of Wi-Fi, the user device 106 can communicatewith the control unit 110 via a mobile network or Global System forMobile GSM networks. Similarly, the position of the user device can belocated through its own communications networks such as GSM, 3G, 4G or5G instead of the beacon system referred to above or GPS.

When only links are shared between user device 106 and the control unit110 for accessing recorded content, bandwidth efficiency is realised. Avideo file is only shared when accessed by the user by navigating to theassociated URL. User recording of a video is no longer required as auser can access media content of the event through the control unit 110and the recording devices, without using the processing and storagenecessary to record content on the user device 106 itself.

The quality of captured content may also be improved as higherresolution recording devices may be used to capture the media content,rather than lower quality user devices having a recording function.Furthermore, as well as picture quality, angle of view and quality ofdirection is likely to be improved over user controlled handheld userdevices.

A user does not need to invest personal time and/or have specialisedknowledge to perform content capture and editing. The click of a button206 in the application on the user device 106 can perform both thecapture of the content and the editing at the same time. A user is notrestricted to requesting a single recorded video of an event but canrequest multiple content items from multiple recording devices insequence or simultaneously.

Disclosed herein is a method and system for supplementing a live eventwith the option for the attendee to access recorded content of theevent. The attendee is validated as having been present at the event bylocation information processed through his/her user device. The attendeeis able to make a request for content or a request for content optionsfrom which a selection can be made. The request can be made after accessto the content has been enabled, at the same time or as a sequence aspart of the same user action. The content is not accessed directly butis provided with a link to the requested content which can be retrievedat the attendee's convenience but possibly subject to usage restrictionsimposed by the service provider.

A user may log into the service through an application as describedabove or a web page. The authentication process records the logininformation provided by the user, for example an email address, and alsothe unique device ID associated with that user device. This provides anextra layer of security to the process as only known subscribers maythen use the service.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure there is provided amethod of enabling a user to access data associated with an event to auser. The method comprises determining the location of a user's deviceat a control unit, confirming the location is within a predeterminedvicinity and that the user's device was at the location within apredetermined period, and the control unit enabling access for the userto the data if the location of the user's device in the predeterminedperiod is confirmed.

The data associated with the event may be a recording of at least partof the event recorded on a recording device. The recording may be avideo recording recorded by a camera. The video recording may becaptured by at least one camera, the at least one camera being locatedat a defined camera location in the vicinity of the event. The definedcamera location may be mobile relative to the live event.

Location information may be sent for the control unit to determine thelocation of the user's device during the event. The location informationmay be sent to the control unit by the user's device. The method mayinclude deriving the location information from a location device withinthe vicinity of the event. The user's device may communicate with theclosest one of a plurality of location devices in the vicinity toreceive the location information. The user's device may communicate withthe location devices wirelessly and the closest location device may bedetermined by relative signal strength. The user's device may receivelocation information from the one location device. The user's device maygenerate its own location information.

The at least one location device may be at a fixed location relative tothe live event. The at least one location device may be awireless-enabled beacon. The user's device may be configured to monitorfor the presence of the at least one location device.

The access to the data may be enabled in response to a request sent fromthe user's device. The request may be sent during the event. The datamay be stored in a buffer configured to store data for a predefinedperiod. The method may further comprise transferring, to a memory, atleast some of the data stored in the buffer at the time of the request,and storing subsequent data recorded after the request in the memory.The request may be sent after the event.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure there is provided amethod of enabling a user to access recorded data associated with anevent. The method comprises determining the location of a user's deviceat a control unit, confirming the location is within a predeterminedvicinity and that the user's device was at the location within apredetermined period, the control unit enabling access for the user tothe data if the location of the user's device in the period areconfirmed and receiving a request for the data.

The request may be sent during the event. The data may be stored in abuffer configured to store data for a predefined period. The method mayfurther comprise transferring, to a memory, at least some of the datastored in the buffer at the time of the request, and storing subsequentdata recorded after the request in the memory. The user's device maysend location information for determining the location of the user'sdevice. The location information may be sent with the request. Therequest may be sent after the location information.

The access to the data may be provided by a link received by the user'sdevice. The link may be transmitted from the control unit in response toa request. The access to the data may comprise extracting a portion ofthe data associated with the event in response to the request. Theportion of the data may be coincident with the time of the request. Theportion of the data may be a predefined set of data on a portion of theevent corresponding to a period within which the request is made. Theportion of the data may be a set of data running from a predeterminedtime before the time of the request to a predetermined time after therequest. The portion of the data may be determined based on the locationof the user's device. The extracted data may be assigned an address forthe user which is incorporated into the link.

Usage rules may be applied to the data such that access is restricted.The usage rules may comprise limiting the data to a number ofretrievals, shares, playbacks and/or downloads. The data may be accessedvia the link by another device determined to have been within thevicinity and within the period.

The user's device may be enabled to access the data for a limitedperiod. The limited period may be the duration of the live event. Themethod may further comprise receiving a plurality of requests for dataassociated with the event from a plurality of devices, and compiling asingle package of data for the plurality of devices. The compilation maybe performed on a plurality of requests received in a predeterminedperiod. The predetermined vicinity and period time may be coincidentwith the live event.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure there is provided asystem for enabling a user to access data associated with a live event,the system comprising a control unit arranged to determine the locationof a device, confirm the location is within a predetermined vicinity andthat the user's device was at the location within a predeterminedperiod, and enable access for the user to the data if the location ofthe user's device in the predetermined period is confirmed.

The system may further comprise at least one recording device, in whichthe data are a recording of at least part of the event recorded on theat least one recording device. The at least one recording device may bea camera and the recording may be a video recording. The video recordingmay be a recording of at least part of the event captured by at leastone camera, the at least one camera being located at a defined cameralocation in the vicinity of the event.

Location information may be sent to the control unit which may beoperable to determine the location of the user's device during theevent. The location information may be sent to the control unit by theuser's device. The user's device may be operable to derive the locationinformation from a location device within the vicinity of the event. Thesystem may further comprise a plurality of location devices in thevicinity to receive the location information. The user's device may beoperable to communicate with the closest one of the plurality oflocation devices. The user's device may be operable to communicate withthe location devices wirelessly and may be operable to determine theclosest location device by relative signal strength. The user's devicemay be operable to receive location information from the one locationdevice. The user's device may be operable to generate its own locationinformation.

The at least one location device may be at a fixed location relative tothe live event. The at least one location device may be awireless-enabled beacon. The device may be configured to monitor for thepresence of the at least one location device.

The access to the data may be enabled by the control unit in response toa request sent from the user's device. The request may be sent duringthe event. The system may further comprise a buffer configured to storedata for a predefined period. The data may be stored in the buffer. Thesystem may further comprise a memory. At least some of the data storedin the buffer at the time of the request may be transferred to thememory, and subsequent data recorded after the request may be stored inthe memory. The request may be sent after the event.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure there is provided asystem for enabling a user to access data associated with a live event,the system comprising a control unit arranged to determine the locationof a device, confirm the location is within a predetermined vicinity andthat the user's device was at the location within a predeterminedperiod, and enable access for the user to the data if the location ofthe user's device in the period are confirmed and receive a request forthe data.

The request may be sent during the event. The data may be stored in abuffer configured to store data for a predefined period. At least someof the data stored in the buffer at the time of the request may betransferred to a memory, and subsequent data recorded after the requestmay be stored in the memory.

The user's device may send location information for determining thelocation of the user's device. The location information may be sent withthe request. The request may be sent after the location information.

The access to the data may be provided by a link sent by the user'sdevice. The link may be transmitted from the control unit in response toa request. The access to the data may comprise extracting a portion ofthe data associated with the event in response to the request. Theportion of the data may be coincident with the time of the request. Theportion of the data may be a predefined set of data on a portion of theevent corresponding to a period within which the request is made. Theportion of the data may be a set of data running from a predeterminedtime before the time of the request to a predetermined time after therequest. The portion of the data may be determined based on the locationof the user's device. The extracted data may be assigned an address forthe user which is incorporated into the link.

The system may further comprise a media processing unit “MPU” configuredto extract a portion of the data associated with the event. The controlunit may be configured to enable access for the user to the portion ofthe data. The MPU may be configured to extract the portion of the databased on the time of the request.

Usage rules may be applied to the data such that access is restricted.The usage rules comprise limiting the data to a number of retrievals,shares, playbacks and/or downloads.

The data may be accessed via the link by another device confirmed tohave been within the vicinity and within the period. The control unitmay be further configured to enable access to the data for a limitedperiod. The limited period may be the duration of the live event. Thecontrol unit may be further configured to receive a plurality ofrequests for data associated with the event from a plurality of devices,and compile a single package of data to be accessed by the plurality ofdevices. The control unit may be configured to perform the compilationon a plurality of requests received in a predetermined period. Thepredetermined vicinity and period time may be coincident with the liveevent. The control unit may be located remote from an environment inwhich the live event is taking place. The MPU may be located remote froman environment in which the live event is taking place.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of one implementation of a computingdevice 500 within which a set of instructions, for causing the computingdevice to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein,may be executed. In alternative implementations, the computing devicemay be connected e.g., networked to other machines in a Local AreaNetwork LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The computingdevice may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in aclient-server network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The computing devicemay be a personal computer PC, a tablet computer, a set-top box STB, aPersonal Digital Assistant PDA, a cellular telephone, a web appliance, aserver, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions, sequential or otherwise, that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlecomputing device is illustrated, the term “computing device” shall alsobe taken to include any collection of machines e.g., computers, thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computing device 500 includes a processing device 502, amain memory 504 e.g., read-only memory ROM, flash memory, dynamic randomaccess memory DRAM such as synchronous DRAM SDRAM or Rambus DRAM RDRAM,etc., a static memory 506 e.g., flash memory, static random accessmemory SRAM, etc., and a secondary memory e.g., a data storage device518, which communicate with each other via a bus 530.

Processing device 502 represents one or more general-purpose processorssuch as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. Moreparticularly, the processing device 502 may be a complex instruction setcomputing CISC microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing RISCmicroprocessor, very long instruction word VLIW microprocessor,processor implementing other instruction sets, or processorsimplementing a combination of instruction sets. Processing device 502may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as anapplication specific integrated circuit ASIC, a field programmable gatearray FPGA, a digital signal processor DSP, network processor, or thelike. Processing device 502 is configured to execute the processinglogic instructions 522 for performing the operations and steps discussedherein.

The computing device 500 may further include a network interface device508. The computing device 500 also may include a video display unit 510e.g., a liquid crystal display LCD or a cathode ray tube CRT, analphanumeric input device 512 e.g., a keyboard or touchscreen, a cursorcontrol device 514 e.g., a mouse or touchscreen, and an audio device 516e.g., a speaker.

The data storage device 518 may include one or more machine-readablestorage media, or more specifically one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media 528 on which is stored one or more setsof instructions 522 embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein. The instructions 522 may also reside,completely or at least partially, within the main memory 504 and/orwithin the processing device 502 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 500, the main memory 504 and the processing device 502also constituting computer-readable storage media.

The various methods described above may be implemented by a computerprogram. The computer program product may include computer code arrangedto instruct a computer to perform the functions of one or more of thevarious methods described above. The computer program and/or the codefor performing such methods may be provided to an apparatus, such as acomputer, on one or more computer readable media or, more generally, acomputer program product. The computer readable media may be transitoryor non-transitory. The one or more computer readable media could be, forexample, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, or a propagation medium for data transmission, forexample for downloading the code over the Internet. Alternatively, theone or more computer readable media could take the form of one or morephysical computer readable media such as semiconductor or solid statememory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random accessmemory RAM, a read-only memory ROM, a rigid magnetic disc, and anoptical disk, such as a CD-ROM, CD-R/W or DVD.

In an implementation, the modules, components and other featuresdescribed herein, for example control unit 110 in relation to FIG. 1,can be implemented as discrete components or integrated in thefunctionality of hardware components such as ASICS, FPGAs, DSPs orsimilar devices as part of an individualization server.

A “hardware component” is a tangible e.g., non-transitory physicalcomponent e.g., a set of one or more processors capable of performingcertain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certainphysical manner. A hardware component may include dedicated circuitry orlogic that is permanently configured to perform certain operations. Ahardware component may be or include a special-purpose processor, suchas a field programmable gate array FPGA or an ASIC. A hardware componentmay also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarilyconfigured by software to perform certain operations.

Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity that may be physically constructed,permanently configured e.g., hardwired, or temporarily configured e.g.,programmed, to operate in a certain manner or to perform certainoperations described herein.

In addition, the modules and components can be implemented as firmwareor functional circuitry within hardware devices. Further, the modulesand components can be implemented in any combination of hardware devicesand software components, or only in software e.g., code stored orotherwise embodied in a machine-readable medium or in a transmissionmedium.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description,discussions utilizing terms such as “receiving,” “determining,”“comparing,” “enabling,” “maintaining,” “identifying,” or the like,refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similarelectronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms datarepresented as physical, electronic, quantities within the computersystem's registers and memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer system memories or registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementations will beapparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding theabove description. Although the present disclosure has been describedwith reference to specific example implementations, it will berecognized that the disclosure is not limited to the implementationsdescribed, but can be practiced with modification and alteration withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative senserather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the disclosure should,therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, alongwith the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Also disclosed is a method of enabling a user to access recorded dataassociated with an event, the method comprising determining the locationof a user's device at a control unit, confirming the location is withina predetermined vicinity and that the user's device was at the locationwithin a predetermined period, and the control unit enabling access forthe user to the data if the location of the user's device in thepredetermined period is confirmed.

Optionally, the data are a recording of at least part of the eventrecorded on at least one recording device. Optionally, the recording isa video recording recorded by at least one camera. Optionally, the videorecording is a recording of at least part of the event captured by theat least one camera, the at least one camera being located at a definedcamera location in the vicinity of the event.

Optionally, location information is sent for the control unit todetermine the location of the user's device during the event.Optionally, the location information is sent to the control unit by theuser's device. Optionally, the method includes deriving the locationinformation from a location device within the vicinity of the event.Optionally, the user's device communicates with the closest one of aplurality of location devices in the vicinity to receive the locationinformation. Optionally, the user's device receives location informationfrom the one location device. Optionally, the user's device generatesits own location information.

Optionally, the access to the data is enabled in response to a requestsent from the user's device. Optionally, the request is sent during theevent. Optionally, the data are stored in a buffer configured to storedata for a predefined period. Optionally, the method further comprisestransferring, to a memory, at least some of the data stored in thebuffer at the time of the request, and storing subsequent data recordedafter the request in the memory. Optionally, the request is sent afterthe event.

Optionally, the access to the data is provided by a link received by theuser's device. Optionally, the link is transmitted from the control unitin response to a request. Optionally, the access to the data comprisesextracting a portion of the data associated with the event in responseto the request. Optionally, the portion of the data is coincident withthe time of the request. Optionally, the portion of the data is apredefined set of data on a portion of the event corresponding to aperiod within which the request is made. Optionally, the portion of thedata is a set of data running from a predetermined time before the timeof the request to a predetermined time after the request. Optionally,the portion of the data is determined based on the location of theuser's device. Optionally, the extracted data is assigned an address forthe user which is incorporated into the link.

Optionally, usage rules are applied to the data such that access isrestricted. Optionally, the usage rules comprise limiting the data to anumber of retrievals, shares, playbacks and/or downloads.

Also disclosed is a system for enabling a user to access recorded dataassociated with an event, the system comprising a control unit arrangedto determine the location of a user's device, confirm the location iswithin a predetermined vicinity and that the user's device was at thelocation within a predetermined period, and enable access for the userto the data if the location of the user's device in the predeterminedperiod is confirmed.

Optionally, the system further comprises at least one recording device,in which the data are a recording of at least part of the event recordedon the at least one recording device. Optionally, the at least onerecording device is at least one camera and the recording is a videorecording recorded by the at least one camera. Optionally, the videorecording is a recording of at least part of the event captured by theat least one camera, the at least one camera being located at a definedcamera location in the vicinity of the event.

Optionally, location information is sent to the control unit which isoperable to determine the location of the user's device during theevent. Optionally, the location information is sent to the control unitby the user's device. Optionally, the user's device is operable toderive the location information from a location device within thevicinity of the event. Optionally, the system further comprises aplurality of location devices in the vicinity to receive the locationinformation, in which the user's device is operable to communicate withthe closest one of the plurality of location devices. Optionally, theuser's device is operable to receive location information from the onelocation device. Optionally, the user's device is operable to generateits own location information.

Optionally, the access to the data is enabled by the control unit inresponse to a request sent from the user's device. Optionally, therequest is sent during the event. Optionally, the system furthercomprises a buffer configured to store data for a predefined period, inwhich the data are stored in the buffer. Optionally, the system furthercomprises a memory, in which at least some of the data stored in thebuffer at the time of the request is transferred to the memory, andsubsequent data recorded after the request is stored in the memory.Optionally, the request is sent after the event.

Optionally, the access to the data is provided by a link sent by theuser's device. Optionally, the link is transmitted from the control unitin response to a request. Optionally, the enabling comprises extractinga portion of the data associated with the event in response to therequest. Optionally, the portion of the data is coincident with the timeof the request. Optionally, the portion of the data is a predefined setof data on a portion of the event corresponding to a period within whichthe request is made. Optionally, the portion of the data is a set ofdata running from a predetermined time before the time of the request toa predetermined time after the request. Optionally, the portion of thedata is determined based on the location of the user's device.Optionally, the extracted data is assigned an address for the user whichis incorporated into the link.

Optionally, usage rules are applied to the data such that access isrestricted. Optionally, the usage rules comprise limiting the data to anumber of retrievals, shares, playbacks and/or downloads.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing access to recorded dataassociated with an event, the method comprising: determining, by acontrol unit, a location of a first device at a first time; confirmingthe location is within a predetermined vicinity coincident with theevent and that the first time was within a time period associated withthe event; receiving a first request for at least a portion of recordeddata associated with the event, the first request being associated withthe first device; receiving at least one additional request for at leastthe portion of the recorded data; consolidating the first request andthe at least one additional request into a single request; extracting aportion of the recorded data, wherein the extracted portion of therecorded data includes a time window relative to a time of the firstrequest, the time window including a first time equal to or before thetime of the first request and a second time equal to or after the timeof the first request; generating, for the single request, a common mediafile for the extracted portion of the recorded data; and providing forthe first device or at least one additional device, access to the commonmedia file for the extracted portion of the recorded data based onconfirming that the first device was within the predetermined vicinitycoincident with the event within the time period.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the time window includes a first time before the time of thefirst request and a second time after the time of the first request. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the time window includes a first timebefore the time of the first request and a second time after the time ofthe additional request.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the timewindow includes a first time before the time of the additional requestand a second time after the time of the additional request.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the time window includes a first time beforethe time of the additional request and a second time after the time ofthe first request.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a location of the least one additional device was within thepredetermined vicinity coincident with the event within the time period;and providing for the at least one additional device, access to thecommon media file for the extracted portion of the recorded data basedon confirming that the least one additional device was within thepredetermined vicinity coincident with the event within the time period.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded data is based on a videoof at least part of the event captured by at least one camera of thefirst device, the at least one camera being located at a location of theevent.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first device is a mobiledevice.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining anumber of requests associated with one or more portions of the recordeddata; selecting one or more clips from the recorded data to include in acollection of clips, the one or more clips being selected based on thenumber of requests; and providing at least one of the first device orthe at least one additional device with access to the collection ofclips.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded data is stored instorage configured to store data for a period of time, and furthercomprising: transferring, to a memory, at least some of the recordeddata stored in the storage at the time of at least one of the firstrequest or the at least one additional request; and storing, in thememory, subsequent data obtained after the first request or the at leastone additional request.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the access tothe recorded data is provided to at least one of the first device or theat least one additional device by a link.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the time window associated with the recorded data isconfigurable based on one or more additional requests.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the time window associated with the recorded data isdetermined based on a location of the first device.
 14. An apparatus forproviding access to recorded data associated with an event, comprising:one or more processors; and memory accessible to the one or moreprocessors, the memory storing instructions, which upon execution by theone or more processors, cause the one or more processors to performoperations to: determine a location of a first device at a first time;confirm the location is within a predetermined vicinity coincident withthe event and that the first time was within a time period associatedwith the event; obtain a first request for at least a portion ofrecorded data associated with the event, the first request beingassociated with the first device; obtain at least one additional requestfor at least the portion of the recorded data; consolidate the firstrequest and the at least one additional request into a single request;extract a portion of the recorded data, wherein the extracted portion ofthe recorded data includes a time window relative to a time of the firstrequest, the time window including a first time equal to or before thetime of the first request and a second time equal to or after the timeof the first request; generate, for the single request, a common mediafile for the extracted portion of the recorded data; and provide for thefirst device or at least one additional device, access to the commonmedia file for the extracted portion of the recorded data based onconfirming that the first device was within the predetermined vicinitycoincident with the event within the time period.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the time window includes one of a first time beforethe time of the first request and a second time after the time of thefirst request, a first time before the time of the first request and asecond time after the time of the additional request, a first timebefore the time of the additional request and a second time after thetime of the additional request, or a first time before the time of theadditional request and a second time after the time of the firstrequest.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having storedthereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to: determine a location of a firstdevice at a first time; confirm the location is within a predeterminedvicinity coincident with an event and that the first time was within atime period associated with the event; obtain a first request for atleast a portion of recorded data associated with the event, the firstrequest being associated with the first device; obtain at least oneadditional request for at least the portion of the recorded data;consolidate the first request and the at least one additional requestinto a single request; extract a portion of the recorded data, whereinthe extracted portion of the recorded data includes a time windowrelative to a time of the first request, the time window including afirst time equal to or before the time of the first request and a secondtime equal to or after the time of the first request; generate, for thesingle request, a common media file for the extracted portion of therecorded data; and provide for the first device or at least oneadditional device, access to the common media file for the extractedportion of the recorded data based on confirming that the first devicewas within the predetermined vicinity coincident with the event withinthe time period.